Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir

:5ok:

Super Bowl Showdown set between Lesnar and Mir
By Thomas Gerbasi

In a classic case of putting your money where your mouth is, new UFC signee Brock Lesnar – who has made no bones about wanting to fight the best the heavyweight division has to offer – will make his Octagon debut at UFC 81 on February 2nd against none other than former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir.

The bout will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on the eve of Super Bowl XLII.

“It’s an interesting matchup,” said UFC President Dana White. “Lesnar is a great wrestler, a good athlete, and this is definitely gonna be a big test for him. Frank Mir is a former world champion who is coming off a big win over Antoni Hardonk, and he’s looking to get his career back on track while Lesnar’s looking to walk into the UFC and prove what type of fighter he’s gonna be by trying to knock him off.”

The 6-3 ½, 265 Lesnar (1-0) comes to the UFC with stellar college wrestling credentials
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that saw him earn All American status four times, win Big Ten Championships twice, and also win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. After leaving the University of Minnesota, the South Dakota-born Lesnar gained fame as a professional wrestler and also had a stint with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. In 2007, he made his mixed martial arts debut and annihilated Min Soo Kim in just 69 seconds on June 2nd.

“This guy’s not trying to duck anybody,” said White of Lesnar. “He knew once he got in the UFC that he was gonna fight tough guys.”

28 year old Las Vegan Frank Mir (10-3) was destined for stardom from the moment he stepped in the UFC Octagon, and he lived up to all expectations when he submitted Tim Sylvia in 50 seconds in 2004 to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, Mir’s career ground to a halt when a serious motorcycle accident later that year forced him to the sidelines for almost two years. His eagnerness to return forced him into some spotty performances when he did return in 2006, but at UFC 74 in August, Mir was back in top notch form as he submitted Antoni Hardonk in just 77 seconds.

That's what is wrong with UFC. A guy who has fought only one MMA match (?) gets matched up with a former champ. If he wins, he stands a good chance of landing a title shot. There is no working up the ranks, like in boxing. Thus inexperienced guys are featured as champs and on major cards. Brings quality down.

That's what is wrong with UFC. A guy who has fought only one MMA match (?) gets matched up with a former champ. If he wins, he stands a good chance of landing a title shot. There is no working up the ranks, like in boxing. Thus inexperienced guys are featured as champs and on major cards. Brings quality down.

Yeah but Lesnar is a super athlete and Mir was a champ like 4 years ago. And Mir's last few performances were meh...so it seems like a fair enough match up for me.

I have a soft spot for Brock Lesnar, he escaped the meat grinder of Pro Wrestling before it destroyed him, he's an AMAZING amateur wrestler, and he really wants to get in there and fight the toughest guys he can find. I hope he shows that he's more than just Monster with great wrestling. I also hope he passes the drug tests....
I hope the fight isn't one sided, I'd love to see it go to round three and end in a KO/TKO by Lesnar.

The snob in me wants Lesnar to lose, I can't help but feel he is a bad rep for the sport. But at the same time, he does deserve respect as a genuine wrestler and athelete. I'm curious to see if he will pass a drugs test though, I don't see how anyone could get that big otherwise.